Rain bonnet

ABSTRACT

The present teachings are directed a rain bonnet comprising a back panel having a length so that it is adapted to extend below the shoulders and onto the back of a user, a first side panel adapted to extend down the side of a user&#39;s head, a second side panel opposite the first side panel adapted to extend down the side of a user&#39;s head, and a top panel connecting the first and second side panels to one another and to the back panel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present teachings are directed to a rain bonnet for covering a user's head.

BACKGROUND

Existing rain bonnets suffer from a variety of drawbacks including, the tightness of the bonnet, the security of the bonnet, the tendency to crush or otherwise ruin a hairstyle, the fastening mechanism, the failure to adequately cover long hair, and the lack of sturdy, non-sticking materials.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a rain bonnet that overcame these existing issues. There currently exists a need for a rain bonnet that covers long hair, does not crush a hairstyle, is easily fastened and unfastened, stays in place but is not too tight against the head and comprises a sturdy yet soft material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present teachings effectively resolve the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a rain bonnet that is shaped and comprises a material that significantly improves the function of the rain bonnet.

The present teachings provide for a rain bonnet comprising a back panel having a length so that it is adapted to extend below the shoulders and onto the back of a user, a first side panel adapted to extend down the side of a user's head, a second side panel opposite the first side panel adapted to extend down the side of a user's head, a top panel connecting the first and second side panels to one another and to the back panel. Each of the first and second side panels have free ends that are free of contact with a free end of the back panel.

The bonnet may comprise a taffeta material. One or more of the first and second side panel may include a fastening mechanism. The material of the bonnet may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. The bonnet may be free of any elastic. The bonnet may include a mechanical fastening means selected from hook and loop, snaps, magnets, friction fit, hook and eye, clips, clamps, or any combination thereof. The back panel may include a top edge and a bottom edge and wherein the bottom edge is a free edge. The top edge of the back panel may originate at the end of the top panel so that the back panel is free of any contact with the first or second side panels. The top panel may be adapted to extend to cover the back and sides of a user's head.

The bonnet may include a pouch for carrying the bonnet within. The pouch may include an attachment mechanism for attaching to a strap (e.g., a belt, a purse strap, a bag strap, a handle). The pouch may comprise the same material as the bonnet. The bonnet may include an edge material that is different than the material of the top panel, back panel and first and second side panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of an exemplary bonnet in accordance with the present teachings in use.

FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the bonnet of FIG. 1 in a fastened arrangement.

FIG. 2A shows a back view of the bonnet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B shows a back view of the bonnet of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the bonnet of FIG. 1 in use but unfastened.

FIG. 4A shows a side view of the bonnet of FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 4B shows an opposing side view of the bonnet of FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 5 shows a side perspective view of the bonnet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a side profile view of the bonnet of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present teachings meet one or more of the above needs by the improved devices and methods described herein. The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/586,005, filed Nov. 14, 2017, the contents of that application being hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

The present teachings provide for a rain bonnet. The rain bonnet may include one or more panel sections. The bonnet may include a back panel having a length so that it is adapted to extend below the shoulders and onto the back of a user. The bonnet may include a first side panel adapted to extend down the side of a user's head. The bonnet may include a second side panel opposite the first side panel and adapted to extend down the side of a user's head. The bonnet may include a top panel connecting the first and second side panels to one another and to the back panel. Each of the first and second side panels may have free ends that are free of contact with a free end of the back panel. The back panel may extend at least 100 mm, at least 200 mm, or even at least 300 mm beyond any other panel or portion of the bonnet. The bonnet may include one or more cut-out portions that are located at a user's shoulders during use so that the bonnet is free of any direct contact with a user's shoulders.

The bonnet may comprise a material that is sufficiently flexible to form to a user's head. The bonnet may comprise a material that is sufficiently light so that it does not crush a user's hair. The bonnet may comprise a material that is flexible yet able to hold shape so that it sets on top of and slightly above a user's hair. The bonnet may comprise a natural material. The bonnet may comprise a synthetic material. The bonnet may comprise a Nylon material or taffeta (e.g., silk) material. The material of the bonnet may be transparent, translucent, or opaque.

The bonnet may include a fastening mechanism. The bonnet may be substantially free of a fastening mechanism. One or more of the first and second side panel may include a fastening mechanism. Both side panels may include a fastening mechanism. Each side panel may include a portion of a fastening mechanism. The bonnet may be free of any elastic. The bonnet may include a mechanical fastening means selected from hook and loop, snaps, magnets, friction fit, hook and eye, clips, clamps, or any combination thereof.

The back panel may include a top edge and a bottom edge and wherein the bottom edge is a free edge. The top edge of the back panel may originate at the end of the top panel so that the back panel is free of any contact with the first or second side panels. The top panel may be adapted to extend to cover the back and sides of a user's head.

The bonnet may include an edge material (e.g., trim portion) that is different than the material of the top panel, back panel and first and second side panels. The trim portion may comprise s material that acts as a stiffener to assist in maintain the bonnet in a desired location on a user's head. The edge material may form a surface that promotes the flow of water away from the user's head/hair.

The bonnet may include a pouch for carrying the bonnet within. The pouch may include an attachment mechanism for attaching to a strap (e.g., a belt, a purse strap, a bag strap, a handle). The pouch may comprise the same material as the bonnet.

As shown for example in FIGS. 1 through 6, the exemplary bonnet 10 is shown including a top panel 12, a first side panel 14 and a second side panel 16. As shown specifically in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 5, and 6, the bonnet is shown having a back panel 18. The back panel 18 further includes a top edge 20 and a bottom edge (e.g., a free end) 22. The first side panel 14 includes a free end 26 and the second side panel also includes a free end 24. The first side panel includes a fastening portion 28B and the second side panel includes a fastening portion 28A. A trim portion 30 is also shown.

As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the teachings envision that any member of a genus (list) may be excluded from the genus; and/or any member of a Markush grouping may be excluded from the grouping.

Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for ail purposes. The term “consisting essentially of to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist of, or consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components or steps.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.

It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A rain bonnet comprising: a back panel having a length so that it is adapted to extend below the shoulders and onto the back of a user; a first side panel adapted to extend down the side of a user's head; a second side panel opposite the first side panel adapted to extend down the side of a user's head; a top panel connecting the first and second side panels to one another and to the back panel; wherein each of the first and second side panels have free ends that are free of contact with a free end of the back panel.
 2. The rain bonnet of claim 1 wherein the bonnet comprises a taffeta material.
 3. The rain bonnet of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first and second side panel includes a fastening mechanism.
 4. The rain bonnet of claim 2, wherein one or more of the first and second side panel includes a fastening mechanism.
 5. The rain bonnet of claim 1, wherein the material of the bonnet is transparent, translucent, or opaque.
 6. The rain bonnet of claim 1, wherein the bonnet is free of any elastic.
 7. The rain bonnet of claim 3, wherein the bonnet is free of any elastic.
 8. The rain bonnet of claim 1, wherein the bonnet includes a mechanical fastening means selected from hook and loop, snaps, magnets, friction fit, hook and eye, clips, clamps, or any combination thereof.
 9. The rain bonnet of claim 1, wherein the back panel includes a top edge and a bottom edge and wherein the bottom edge is a free edge.
 10. The rain bonnet of claim 9, wherein the top edge of the back panel originates at the end of the top panel so that the back panel is free of any contact with the first or second side panels.
 11. The rain bonnet of claim 3, wherein the back panel includes a top edge and a bottom edge and wherein the bottom edge is a free edge.
 12. The rain bonnet of claim 11, wherein the top edge of the back panel originates at the end of the top panel so that the back panel is free of any contact with the first or second side panels.
 13. The rain bonnet of claim 1, wherein the top panel is adapted to extend to cover the back and sides of a user's head.
 14. The rain bonnet of claim 12, wherein the top panel is adapted to extend to cover the back and sides of a user's head.
 15. The rain bonnet of claim 1, wherein the bonnet includes an edge material that is different than the material of the top panel, back panel and first and second side panels.
 16. The rain bonnet of claim 12, wherein the bonnet includes an edge material that is different than the material of the top panel, back panel and first and second side panels.
 17. The rain bonnet of claim 1, wherein the bonnet includes a pouch for carrying the bonnet within.
 18. The rain bonnet of claim 17, wherein the pouch includes an attachment mechanism for attaching to a strap (e.g., a belt, a purse strap, a bag strap, a handle).
 19. The rain bonnet of claim 17, wherein the pouch comprises the same material as the bonnet.
 20. The rain bonnet of claim 18, wherein the pouch comprises the same material as the bonnet. 